Non Legal Responses to Child Soldiers
When living among armed actors, children experience unscrupulous forms of violence. They may be asked to participate in arduous training or initiation ceremonies, endure hazardous work or engage in combat – with great risk of death, chronic injury and disability. They may also witness, suffer or be forced to participate in torture and murder. Girls in particular may be exposed to gender-based violence. The reintegration of former child soldiers is a long process that requires significant support from the international community. By helping children severely affected by conflict, we are helping to build a peaceful future for their countries. Whether or not children are readmitted to society depends on a variety of factors, including why they connect with armed actors and the perception of their families and communities. Some children who try to reintegrate are viewed with suspicion or rejected outright, while others have difficulty adapting. Psychological distress can make it difficult for children to process and verbalize their experiences, especially if they are afraid of stigma or how people will react. The campaign ended in late 2016, but the consensus sought is now a reality, and thousands of child soldiers have been released and reintegrated with the support of UNICEF, peacekeeping and political missions, and other UN partners and NGOs on the ground. All governments affected by the campaign are engaged in an action plan process with the United Nations. Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have taken all necessary measures to end and prevent the recruitment of children into their armed forces and are no longer on the list. Regardless of their role, child soldiers are exposed to acute violence – as witnesses, direct victims and coercive participants.
Some are injured and have to live with a disability for the rest of their lives. In 2014, the Special Representative launched the “Children, Not Soldiers” campaign with UNICEF to build a global consensus that child soldiers should not be used in conflict. The campaign is designed to generate momentum, political will and international support to end once and for all the recruitment of children by national security forces in conflict situations. Warring parties also deprive children of food and healthy living conditions or expose them to drug abuse, with significant consequences for their physical and mental well-being. The recruitment and use of children by armed forces or armed groups constitutes a grave violation of children`s rights and international humanitarian law. In many conflicts, children are directly involved in the struggle. However, their role is not limited to combat. Many girls and boys are also employed in support functions, which are also associated with great risks and difficulties.
These experiences strain children`s relationships with their families and communities. The Human Rights Act states that the age of 18 is permitted to recruit and use children in hostilities. The recruitment and use of children under the age of 15 as soldiers is prohibited by international humanitarian law – treaty and custom – and is defined by the International Criminal Court as a war crime. Parties to conflict that recruit and use children are listed by the Secretary-General in the annexes to his annual report on children and armed conflict. Children are part of an armed force or group for a variety of reasons. Some are abducted, threatened, coerced or manipulated by armed actors. Others are driven by poverty and forced to generate income for their families. Still others come together to survive or protect their communities. Regardless of their involvement, the recruitment and use of children by armed forces constitutes a serious violation of children`s rights and international humanitarian law.
Within the United Nations system, UNICEF is responsible for the reintegration of former child soldiers and its top priority is to prepare them for a return to civilian life. Psychosocial support, education and/or training are important aspects of reintegration programmes. It is also important to try to reunite children with their families and communities, but sometimes awareness and reconciliation efforts are needed before a child is welcomed into the home. We support the release and reintegration of thousands of children who leave armed forces and groups each year – providing them with a safe place to live after release, as well as community services for case management, family tracing, reunification and psychosocial support. We also provide specialized support to survivors of gender-based violence. There are many opportunities for children to come into contact with armed forces and groups. Some children are abducted and beaten into submission, others join military groups to escape poverty, defend their communities, take revenge or for other reasons. The report specifically addresses the recruitment of children by non-State armed groups, including mercenaries, and notes that this in itself is a serious violation of international law. It also deals with the recruitment of former child soldiers into private military and security companies (PMSCs). These reasons underlie some of the Working Group`s recommendations, including that preventive measures should focus on the recovery and reintegration of children and address the root causes that contribute to the recruitment of children in armed conflict. Thousands of children are recruited and used in armed conflict around the world. Between 2005 and 2020, more than 93,000 children were recruited and used by parties to the conflict, although the actual number of cases is considered much higher.
A child associated with an armed force or group means any person under the age of 18 who has been recruited or used by an armed force or group in any capacity, including, but not limited to, children, boys and girls who are used as combatants, cooks, porters, spies or for sexual purposes. (Source: Paris Principles on the involvement of children in armed conflict, 2007) Essential support for former child soldiers in South Sudan at risk due to lack of funding Regardless of how and what role they recruit, child soldiers are victims whose involvement in conflict has a serious impact on their physical and mental well-being. They are frequently abused and most witness death, murder and sexual violence. Many are forced to commit acts of violence and some suffer serious long-term psychological consequences. The reintegration of these children into civilian life is an essential part of the work to help child soldiers rebuild their lives. These boys and girls, often referred to as “child soldiers”, suffer from widespread forms of exploitation and abuse that are not fully captured by the term. Warring parties use children not only as combatants, but also as scouts, cooks, porters, guards, messengers, and more. Many, especially girls, are also vulnerable to gender-based violence. From child at war to renowned perpetrator, human rights activist and special envoy The report also recommends that Member States criminalize the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18 in armed conflict and better control the recruitment practices of private military and security companies.